After spending last season as a special consultant for the Kings, Clifford Ray enters his first season as a Kings assistant coach. Prior to joining the Kings, Ray served as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Dallas Mavericks. He was with the Celtics for four seasons (2006-07 – 2009-10).

Ray began his coaching career with the Dallas Mavericks in 1987. He spent six seasons with the Mavericks in a part-time role, specifically working with centers and forwards. Ray moved to Fort Wayne and Grand Rapids of the CBA, becoming the head coach for Fort Wayne in the 1993-94 season. In 1995-96, he served as an assistant coach with the New Jersey Nets. He was a special consultant for the Orlando Magic during the 1999-2000 season and then served as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors for two seasons (2000-01 and 2001-02). Prior to joining the Warriors, Ray served as the top assistant to former Warriors teammate Rick Barry with the Florida Sea Dragons and New Jersey Shorecats in the United States Basketball League (USBL). In the 2002-03 campaign, Ray was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers coaching staff.

Originally selected in the third round of the 1971 NBA Draft by Chicago, Ray appeared in 784 regular season games during his 10-year professional career with the Bulls and Warriors, averaging 7.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, and 25.4 mpg. His name can be found throughout the Golden State record books, ranking among the Warriors' all-time leaders in offensive rebounds (2nd, 1,372), defensive rebounds (2nd, 2,938), field goal percentage (5th, .537), blocked shots (6th, 465) and total rebounds (9th, 4,310). Named to the 1971-72 NBA All-Rookie Team, Ray was traded to Golden State for Nate Thurmond prior to the 1974-75 season. He helped the Warriors to capturing the 1975 NBA title.

Ray played at the University of Oklahoma, where he was a First Team All-Big Eight performer and led the conference in rebounding. He is a native of Union, S.C., and has a son, Everett.